Buying a lorry...any tips or gotchas?

[Luci07]

My horse clearly prefers a lorry and now I am looking at travelling further, I am not keen on my trailer.

Starting thinking I could buy something reasonable for around the £5k mark but as I do my research, looks like I need to save for a bit longer. Have looked at running costs as well.

Here's my "must have" so far.

Have a pre 1997 license so looking for up 7.5 ton, personal use only,
Will be properly checked by a lorry mechanic
Will have payload confirmed
Will check I can manage the ramp on my own (!)
External lockers
Cut through as have dogs and want quick access to horse area.
Not keen on 3.5 as they feel flimsy to me (personal preference)
Want some living as space to change etc is sorely missed with my trailer
Want a shorter wheel base. Some I have seen online seem very long and I am thinking about where the lorry would be stores
Will be used to go eventing and locally

Friend who had been looking strongly advised I save till I can get at least an R or S reg, appreciate there will be some older with lower mileage but in her exp, there is a big diff in what you get for 5k and 7k. Sorry if that seems obvious to those of you with lorries, but I am trying to do all my homework first! Can any of share your thoughts/advice with me? Problems with parts? Gotchas I have not thought of? Thank you in advance!

 

[be positive]

This is old but has been a horsebox for many years so could be a good buy if genuine, there are a few others on the site over budget but most people will expect offers so worth a call. You wouldn't get a 3.5 within budget unless you really compromise, I think most of what you need to check is covered in your list other than thoroughly checking the floor something your mechanic may not do as it is not mechanical and is not part of any MOT test.
http://www.nfed.co.uk/cgi-bin/class...lay_db_button=on&db_id=110136&query=retrieval

 

[Slightlyconfused]

try to get a tilt cab as they are so much easier to work on.....also Daf is one of the most preferred by mechanics (Dad is a fitter)

when you go see them make sure to check if its been running before you get there to get the crap out of it, look for oil leaks on the ground and check the box floor and my biggest bit of advice is to take a mechanic with you and ask to see previous mot/plating records.

 

[Batgirl]

try to get a tilt cab as they are so much easier to work on.....also Daf is one of the most preferred by mechanics (Dad is a fitter)

when you go see them make sure to check if its been running before you get there to get the crap out of it, look for oil leaks on the ground and check the box floor and my biggest bit of advice is to take a mechanic with you and ask to see previous mot/plating records.

Beat me to it! Tilt cab will reduce labour costs on engine work.

My garage advised to get a slightly newer with more mileage rather than older with less mileage as the rusty type wear and tear is liekly to be less on a younger vehicle. But there are obviously different opinions on this!

 

[conniegirl]

I wouldn't worry about it being older, mine is a G reg (24 yrs old) and has been ultra reliable for the last 8 years, it is super low mileage and has been a horse box from new.
The worst I've had was a tyre blowout! My mechanic likes it as it is simple and there is very little to go wrong, one of my friend has a much newer lorry and I think it like to pretend to be a Xmas tree there is always some sort of warning light flashing on it
Mine costs on average £1000 a year to keep it on the road including test and tax.

 

[ponydi]

If you want external lockers look for them in the living area rather than in front of the horse

 

[foraday]

When you go and buy listen to the seller!!!!

And really listen! IF they are proud of the lorry, and constantly tell you what they have done to the lorry mechanical wise etc and ask for the lorrys name! If they have named the lorry they have loved and looked after that lorry for donkeys!

If is a hard hard world out there and you could be lucky, I was 3rd time lucky and just knew buy the way the seller went on and on and on about the lorry and I said ok what's her name!!!!!

I bought her!

 

[Luci07]

Guys, thank you SO much...brilliant advice! Will not look and waste anyone's time till I have all the cash in my paws but think I am getting there..and the things you have mentioned are things I would never have looked at. Worst one is the floor, see I assumed a good checkover would have included checking the floor...

 

[sh90]

try and stay away from cargos hun! Generally Daf's and MAN's are best lorrys. My previous lorry was a j reg daf and fab in every way went to look at p reg lorry on Saturday and it was awful (badly! advertised) and could easily tell they were very good friends with their MOT tester! My partner is truck mechanic and was not happy at all we had wasted our time. totally agree with faraday and also stories can change (they did on Saturday lol!) so can be something to watch out for.

 

[bakewell]

ask how old the tyres are. If they've never changed them be wary. Tyres perish on horseboxes before they go bald due to type of usage. A new set is pricey but avoids blowout horror.

 

[conniegirl]

Also don't be fooled by a pretty paint job, it can hide a multitude of problems! The slightly tatty older lorry that is in good mechanical condition is better than a pretty shiney lorry that brakes down every 5mins!

 

[Landcruiser]

There are good older lorries out there. My 21 year old Leyland Daf has just failed plating on one brake lining. She starts on the button, no rust on cab, tilt cab, hydraulic ramp, short wheelbase, cost me £3500 with 12 months plating last year. Downsides are a few leaks (wood panels not ally), she's heavy being wood, she's also narrower than standard and has a bigger living and smaller horse area than most would like. For me it's fine as I only travel one (and can sleep 4 humans if necessary, with a sep loo compartment too).

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Don't just check the floor but also the ramp - you don't want a horse to fall through that either!

Don't be fooled by the number of partitions in the lorry, I saw an ad yesterday stalled for 3 but with so much equipment, it couldn't possibly have the payload.

 

[coffeeandabagel]

I will be following this since I am on the same mission! Ventialtion is important to me - some seem to have tiny windows on one side only, and I dont see how any air could get in if you end up stuck in a traffic jam or moving slowly.

I have heard about lorries being wrapped instead of re-sprayed. Whats the verdict - does the wrapping hold up to narrow lanes with hedges brushing over it?

 

[ecrozier]

Agree with all above. My YM just bought my old lorry back from the friend I sold it too (had a baby so went to equitrek trailer for the sake of having a tow vehicle with seat belts!)
It's tatty and needs work on the ramp, but is L reg and mechanically sound, drives really well , and cost under £4k because the living is unfitted and the paintwork looks rubbish - mainly needs a really good clean and polish tho!
Have been told many times avoid cargos, go for daf man or merc if possible and agree re names and tyres !

 

[ponydi]

Ask if they have the printout from when it was tested, that will have the weight it was at that time (including fuel, driver and quite possibly all the stuff that gravitates into a lorry and stays there!) It gives you a truer idea of carrying capacity than anything else

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

try and stay away from cargos hun! Generally Daf's and MAN's are best lorrys. My previous lorry was a j reg daf and fab in every way went to look at p reg lorry on Saturday and it was awful (badly! advertised) and could easily tell they were very good friends with their MOT tester! My partner is truck mechanic and was not happy at all we had wasted our time. totally agree with faraday and also stories can change (they did on Saturday lol!) so can be something to watch out for.

I have had Two Ford Cargo/Iveco, they have been brilliant vehicles so good I am going to upgrade mine soon when I sell the one I have.

I personally would not buy any other make

 

[Luci07]

See I have heard good things about the Fords but told to go for the 813 and the 811...

 

[Spottyappy]

I changed from a daf to an Iveco. The iveco is a 1992, the Daf was 1999. The iveco is MILES better to drive, and does slightly more mpg too. I tried lots of boxes when looking, and it came to down (besides my bucket list) which ones I could drive. There was a surprising amount that were totally awful, and I could not drive to save my life! The clutches are often clunky especially when cold, but some were just impossible and I would have needed to be a weight lifter to change them, even on some newer lorries!
I would suggest that you save as much as possible or get a loan, and stretch your budget. However, coming into winter prices tend to drop so you may pick up a bargain soon.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

If you want external lockers look for them in the living area rather than in front of the horse

this, we have just had a new body put on our chassis and we have tack lockers into the living.

ask how old the tyres are. If they've never changed them be wary. Tyres perish on horseboxes before they go bald due to type of usage. A new set is pricey but avoids blowout horror.

not only this but oil change as well, it should be checked at mot prep

Don't just check the floor but also the ramp - you don't want a horse to fall through that either!

Don't be fooled by the number of partitions in the lorry, I saw an ad yesterday stalled for 3 but with so much equipment, it couldn't possibly have the payload.

this 100% our lorry we brought was a 7.5 ton, lady said she has taken two big horses in it and it is stalled for three. it had no mot as it was off road but started first time and dad couldn't find anything mechanically wrong with it just the body needed work.
When we got it break tested the unladen weight came out at 6.1 ton...
We have since had that body scraped and put a new one on which is loads lighter, will be weighing it soon but my dad thinks we will have at least another ton out of it.

Ask if they have the printout from when it was tested, that will have the weight it was at that time (including fuel, driver and quite possibly all the stuff that gravitates into a lorry and stays there!) It gives you a truer idea of carrying capacity than anything else

then you can add up how much you weigh, rough weight of horse and add 50 kilos, aim to have about quarter of a ton left once everyone is on then you have a bit to play with.

I changed from a daf to an Iveco. The iveco is a 1992, the Daf was 1999. The iveco is MILES better to drive, and does slightly more mpg too. I tried lots of boxes when looking, and it came to down (besides my bucket list) which ones I could drive. There was a surprising amount that were totally awful, and I could not drive to save my life! The clutches are often clunky especially when cold, but some were just impossible and I would have needed to be a weight lifter to change them, even on some newer lorries!
I would suggest that you save as much as possible or get a loan, and stretch your budget. However, coming into winter prices tend to drop so you may pick up a bargain soon.

most fitter round here have working one IVECO's their nickname I Vibrate Everything Comes Off!

our chassis is J reg layland daf. its still going strong, starts brilliantly first time. don't dismiss all of the older ones.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Our old M reg DAF was great but unfortunately the chassis became too rusty. Now have 04 DAF lovely to drive but like all newer lorries is electronic and there is a tendancy to get a lot of warning lights flashing on and off. With these you need a man and a laptop rather than a mechanic and a hammer.

As others have said make sure you have a tilt cab and a solid floor. Be wary of ones that have just been tested too. My mechanic always tells his customers when to get rid if they have passed their test, because he knows they will not pass anothre one.